Wednesday, February 24, 2016

A Little Bit of Spring.....

I think maybe, subconsciously, I created this card with Cortney in mind.

Bloom and Grow.

She spread her wings and left the nest yesterday.

Words can not describe the loss I feel right now. I know she is going to do great. She will thrive and make lots of new friends......bloom and grow. But for this mama, it is hard.

And no, it is not the same as sending Kyle off to college as many of my friends and family have tried to compare this to. I think teens in general start gradually leaving the "nest" with their independent attitudes. Taking Cortney yesterday was like ripping off a band aid. There was never any middle ground with her. I went from taking care of her every need to suddenly having nothing to take care of.

And I know in my heart we are blessed with this opportunity for her. It is something that I know will be great for her. I just have to find a way to adjust and fill my time with other things. Which I will. With time.

So maybe it's not just Cortney that needs to Bloom and Grow....maybe it's this gal right here.

13 comments:

It is gorgeous and when I saw the intro I was thinking it was for you as well. Being a parent is so hard and I understand the difficulty you are having. Hoping it gets better as you see your daughter blooming and growing.

Thinking of you as you try to get used to your new 'normal.' Hugs to you and Brian as you adjust. Beautiful card and maybe for the time being you will fill the void with crafting. Make Cortney something to hang on her wall!

A beautiful card Michele. You are absolutely right, it is NOT the same thing as when our able bodied children leave the nest. You have cared for her, her entire life! I am sure (in time) there will be a silver lining to this cloud you are under right now but in the meantime I pray that you will feel God's presence and that each day it gets easier for you. Hugs to you...

Beautiful creation, Yes it is time for you both to bloom and grow, I can't imagine how hard it would be to do that, when they need you for everything, it is totally different then a teen going off that is already started their independence, your right. May God bring you peace and ability to fill your time, with good productive things.

Changes ARE difficult, at times, but it's how we "bloom and grow" so you are correct in that the card is for both of you! You are amazing, and the changes will be slow but your whole family will again grow through this. However I don't believe that what you are going through is equivalent to a child spreading their wings on their own. You all will survive and thrive!

I have had the privilege of working with people who have intellectual and physical disabilities for 22 years. The only similarity to college, is that it is a transition. I loved getting advice from parents of a person who can't verbally tell me what they want or need. Each human being expresses themselves, their own way. I think that you may be (eventually) able to grieve the loss on a day to day basis, and start looking foward to the weekend and week days you see her. There certainly have been a lot of changes for your family. I will be praying for Courtney and her front line staff to have an immediate bond, and for the raw agony to simmer down. It IS very hard- I have never seen a family that it isn't difficult and a painful process.

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